Megastructure Reloaded Symposium

Concept: Markus Richter / Sabrina van der Ley
Moderation: Markus Richter

The symposium was part of the project Megastructure Reloaded and took place on 18/19 October in the küchenmonument (kitchen monument) by raumlaborberlin, a pneumatic architecture which was installed in the courtyard of the exhibition venue, the former State Mint, Berlin.

The symposium focused on the definition of megastructure, the historical and theoretical context of megastructuralism and its protagonists such as Constant, Friedman, Archigram, Archizoom and Superstudio. Further topics were the realised megastructures, the utopian aspect of megastructuralism and the connection between the ‘visionary’ movements in architecture of the 1960ties and 70ties with the more pragmatic foundation of New Towns from the post-war period until now.

Another part of the symposium was dedicated to art historical aspects of megastructuralism such as the visual strategies of Archigram or Superstudio and their close connection to the 1960s art scene and pop culture. This part also includeded a guided tour through the exhibition, where the original drawings and models could be seen.

Finally the symposium discussed the afterlife of megastructure in the museum and in urban developments from the 1960ies until today. The currency and relevance of the megastructure ideas for the growing problem of today’s Megacities and contemporary urban planning, especially in the ‚Newly Industrialising Countries’ were reconsidered.

[project website] [symposium program]